No garage? No problem for new student housing project

A new housing project proposed for 42nd Avenue south of Grand Valley State University, an expansion of Campus View, will appeal mostly to students, but could also attract faculty and staff. The popular cottage-style architectural design is shown in this photo of a similar development in San Marcos Texas, at San Marcos State University, also designed by Progressive AE.supplied

Village-style student housing is coming to the Grand Valley State University neighborhood.

Brian Gardner, owner of Campus View Apartments, was granted a planned unit development ordinance to build apartments and townhomes on 24.63 acres just south of the existing community on 42nd Avenue.

Gardner has proposed cottage-style architecture, and both the Township Planning Commission and Township Board liked the look of the designs. Gardner is planning 105 single-family units with 400 square feet on the main floor, which would house four students; and 36 multi-family units, duplexes with a shared central patio. The total bed count at build-out would be 700.

Peter Lazdins, senior land planner with Progressive AE, is the consultant on the Campus View expansion. He said the single-family home style of construction is growing in popularity. "It makes it a little nicer scale. Each building will have its own color and design."

The property also contains a large woodlot. Lazdins said that as many mature trees as possible will be saved during the building of phases two and three.

The Georgetown Township Board on June 9 approved the Planning Commission's recommendation to grant the ordinance, despite a deviation from the rules. Normally, garages would be required, but Planning Commission Chairman Greg Honderd said that since it is student housing and the area is walkable, garages could be eliminated. Both Lazdins and Gardner commented that garages are sometimes a liability in student housing.

Construction is expected to begin in July, with the first phase taking about a year. Two more phases will be done in the following two years, depending on the market.